Herndon: South Alabama gets a 100-yard receiver -- in first 5 minutes of game

(Press-Register/G.M. Andrews)University of South Alabama running back Santuan McGee (34) follows the block of offensive lineman Jon Griffin (54) to score a touchdown against Fork Union Military Academy during action in the second quarter Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. MOBILE, Ala. -- "This is Courtney Smith's second 100-yard receiving game of the season," South Alabama sports information director Brian Fremund informed the press box at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday.

Which wouldn't have been surprising, except Fremund's announcement came with 10:29 left in the first quarter.

When USA coach Joey Jones said last week that he wanted to see his team throw the ball in Saturday's matchup with Fork Union Military Academy, he wasn't kidding. On the Jaguars' first play from scrimmage Saturday, Jones dialed up a deep post to Smith.

Result. A 64-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Myles Gibbon.

On the Jaguars' second offensive play, Jones sent Smith on the same route and got the same result, this time from 60 yards.

"We practiced on it all week and in the locker room coach came and told me that on the first play, it's going to be to me," Smith said. "After the first one, they told me they were coming back to me again."

Smith was so open on both plays that Gibbon had time to worry that he might overthrow him.

"It's just one of those things where you drop back and everything just sort of slows down," Gibbon said. "Those are the passes quarterbacks hate throwing because if you overthrow him -- which I actually thought I did on the first one -- it stabs to the heart."

South Alabama quarterbacks had attempted just 62 passes in four games entering Saturday's game, throwing for 571 yards. Of course, there really hadn't been much need to throw, as USA has steamrolled every opponent and has yet to trail in a game this season.

But with the running game piling up 1,083 yards in those four games, Jones was looking for more balance. What he got in Saturday's 64-6 rout was a total of 321 passing yards from Gibbon and backups Brennan Sim and Nick Owens.

Sim, a transfer from Oregon State, was 9 of 9 for 130 yards and tossed his first scoring pass as a Jaguar, a 5-yarder to Anthony Mostella, in the second quarter. Owens finished 3 of 4 for 67 yards and one touchdown, a 53-yarder to Kelly Vail early in the fourth quarter.

Fourth-stringer Gabe Graham even got some snaps in the fourth quarter, but did not attempt a pass.

Jones was pleased with the performance, and particularly with the offensive line's protection. USA quarterbacks were sacked only twice, both in the second half after Jones began substituting.

"The protection got better and that's where it all starts in the passing game," Jones said. "They just executed well. We've got to get where we can do it all the time, though, and that's still something we've got to work on."

They probably could have done it all night long against Fork Union, although Gibbon said the Blue Devils' defense began to back off after trying to bring pressure on the first two plays.

But Gibbon attempted just two more passes, both of which fell incomplete. And Smith made only one more catch for 7 yards.

No need to overdo it.There was plenty to go around.

"We had to let our other teammates get some, too," Smith said. "I wasn't trying to be greedy."